If You Want to Sell Books, Don’t Follow My Lead

If you want to sell books, don’t follow my lead. Don’t write the next book in a series. Don’t blog. Don’t actively promote your books. And definitely don’t release anything new.

If you don’t want to sell books, these are must-do’s. Watch trashy reality television. Build playlists for every task possible. I have one for cooking, cleaning, exercising, painting, commuting. You get the picture. And of course, do watch every permeation of every possible zombie show and movie ever made.

I write the above in jest, yet the statements is my current reality.

I haven’t released new books or blogged because I’ve been on a self-imposed sabbatical from writing and publishing. I believe as an indie author I have choices as to when I write and what I write. My readers might disagree. Believe me, I understand. I was a voracious reader too, always looking forward to the next book from my go-to authors. Everything from horror (here’s looking at you, Stephen King) to every genre of romance to nonfiction books, especially those self-help or get-rich-quick books, lol.

I read anything and everything because I wanted to know and learn more about the world around me without leaving the comforts of my home. Isn’t that why we read? To explore? To learn? To experience life and feel emotions from another’s perspective?

I haven’t actively promoted my works since July, when I reached the limit on my budget for the year. Instead, I’ve made the first books in their respective series free (If Only and Protector are free everywhere except Amazon).

Though I may not be as active on social media or getting my books in front of more readers, I look forward to spending the rest of 2015 writing. However, the process will be much slower than I’d like.

A new obstacle other than my pesky need for a mental break from the characters’ voices in my head slows me down. Have you ever had a pinch nerve in your neck? I’m raising my unaffected arm really high. Yes, I have a pinched nerve, and it hurts like heck. The pain settles behind my right shoulder blade and radiates down my right arm, which happens to be my dominate side. The pain is a constant ache, worsen when I drive and, when I’m using the computer mouse and typing.

Apparently, this pain will go away. Or so I’ve heard from people close to me who have experienced the same problem. I’m crossing my fingers for that day to be soon. Soon can’t come soon enough. So I hope you’ll understand why I’m listening to my various playlists, ignoring my blog, watching trashy reality television, and watching tons of zombie shows while typing here and there for a few minutes at a time.

Disclaimer:  This blog post was written in between arm stretches with a resistance band, and heating pads to the writer’s shoulder and arm.

Quote: I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone. I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday. ~ Anonymous

Song on replay: Photograph ~ Ed Sheeran